by the expansive power of freezing Water. 143 



motion had been produced by repeatedly overturning the 

 rocks, they would not have left channels behind them. 

 And again, an immense force must have been exerted to 

 remove these rocks, especially when we consider that one 

 of them weighed by estimation 40 or 50 Ions, and when 

 we add to the resistance arising from its weight, that which 

 must have been caused by the formation of a deep chan- 

 nel after it. The expansive power of ice is a ibrce abun- 

 dantly sufficient. 



The view here given will explain another fact, which I 

 have often observed, and for which I could never form a 

 reasonable explanation, until I perused the statement in 

 your Journal and the paragraph from Dr. Dwight. It is 

 mentioned in the statement from the Massachusetts Trans- 

 actions, " that the cove at Bridgton was lined with stones 

 which had apparently crawled out of the water." The 

 borders of many ponds and lakes in New-England are 

 lined with rocks in the same manner. While bathing on 

 such shores, I have frequently found a gravel bottom quite 

 free from stones, until I had advanced to the depth of about 

 3 feet, when suddenly the bottom was covered with stones 

 as far as I could reach it, in size and other respects 

 resembling those with which the shore was lined. The 

 case seems to have been this ; the ice had gradually car- 

 ried the stones on the bottom, as far as it could reach them 

 by its thickness, to the shore, and had there deposited 

 them. The hardness of the bottom had prevented deep 

 channels from being made behind them, or they had been 

 gradually filled up. 



If this explanation should be deemed unsatisfactory, it 

 may, perhaps, at least, serve the purpose of leading others 

 to give their attention to the subject, who may be more 

 fortunate in their inquiries, and who have had greater op- 

 portunities of observation. The cause to which I have 

 ascribed these singular effects, viz. (he expansion of the 

 ice from the middle towards the borders, certainly exists, 

 and is adequate to produce the effects in question. 



With great respect, I remain, dear sir, your friend and 

 very obedient servant, 



J. ADAMS. 



Sullivan's Island, S. C, Aug. 9th, 1824. 



